FATTENING OF FOWLS. 177 



and observation have shown that the desired object is attained 

 with the greatest certainty and precision, by availing ourselves 

 of certain auxiliaries to these, and by the adoption of fixed meth- 

 ods. Some of the old methods will now be described, and they 

 are not only curious but useful. 



MASCALL'S MODE OF FATTENING. 



Chickens. For the "fattening of bigge chickens," says 

 Mascall, " in the coope or penne, they doe commonly e give 

 them steeped breade in ale, sometimes of dry breade, and their 

 drink, milke and water, or of soaked bran in milke ; and some- 

 times ye must give them barly, and feel them one after another, 

 if there be anything in their crops, for, if that which they have 

 eaten is not gone or consumed, nor their craw yet emptie, that 

 signifieth undigested and like not the meate, then give them no 

 more till they have digested that. And for younger chickens, 

 that goe yet with the damme, ye must not lette them go farre 

 abroad, till they be strong, but lette them remayne with the 

 henne in the house or penne, and give them oat-meale or barly- 

 meale till they be stronger. Ye must see to have them in tem- 

 perate places, not too hote nor too colde, for they may not 

 (being yong) endure muche heate or muche colde, wherefore 

 it were goode to keepe them temperate in the penne with the 

 damme, fortye dayes, till they be more able to goe abroad. Ye 

 must also clip the downe between their thighs, and under their 

 rumpe, and see ofte unto them that their ventes maybe issue." 



Pullets. "For the feeding and cramming of young pul- 

 lets," continues he, " a verye good way is this to make them 

 fat and tender to eate : ye shall keepe them in a dark place, or 

 blindfold them ; then take barlye ground small, and sifte out all 

 the branne thereof, then they doe use to moysten this barlye- 

 meale with warme milke ; and some take ale, and some beare, 

 so they cramme and feed them morning and evening, by giving 



